Inna Lazarev

How often do you come across an unexpected scene which captivates your attention, with its breathtaking beauty, unusual lighting or heartbreaking moodiness? You want to freeze this moment and preserve it in your memory. But memory is illusive and the image which has struck you a moment ago pales by the end of the day. Yes, you can photograph these memorable scenes, but the images produced are often less than satisfactory, not being able to reflect your emotions.

For me, painting is an answer to this dilemma. Not only are you trying to recreate this unforgettable site, with the mood and emotions it has evoked in you at that moment, but also you have an opportunity to explore your subjects lovingly and studiously, as would be impossible otherwise. I believe painting is a very natural human activity. As Wittgenstein said, “When the eye sees beauty, the hand wants to draw it”. It’s true, the product of your labor is often far from perfect, but still it gives you a tremendous satisfaction to be involved in this process.

Inna Lazarev was born and educated in Moscow, Russia. In the USA, she studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Studio Incamminati, Fleisher Art Memorial – all in the Philadelphia area.

Inna is a juried member of the Delaware Valley Art League. Her work can be found in several private collections in the USA, Netherlands and Russia. She was represented by the Fine Arts People Gallery, Exton, PA and Tyme Gallery, Havertown,PA. For the last ten years she’s participated in numerous juried group exhibitions and won several prizes as follows:

2012 - 3rd Place at Delaware Valley Art League

2011 - Suzanne M. Kaminsky Memorial Award at DVAL

2010 - Sponsor Award at Delaware Valley Art League

2010 - Second Place Award for Oil Painting at Fleisher Art Memorial

2010 - Three works have been selected as meritorious entries and included in Richeson Small Works 2010 exhibit book

2009 - Two Special Recognition Merit Awards at
7th Annual Color: Bold/Subtle Juried Online International Art Exhibition

2009 – Off the Wall Framing Award at Perkiomen Valley Art Center

2009 – Painting Award at Fleisher Art Memorial

2008 – Honorable Mention for Figure Painting at Fleisher Art Memorial

2007 – 3rd Prize at Perkiomen Valley Art Center

2007 - Fred & Naomi Award for Figure Painting at Fleisher Art Memorial

2007 - Aurelius Renzetti Memorial Award for a la Prima Painting at Fleisher Art Memorial

2007 – Painting Award at Fleisher Art Memorial

2005 – 2nd Prize at Perkiomen Valley Art Center

2005 – Painting Award at Fleisher Art Memorial

2004 – Fred & Naomi Award at Fleisher Art Memorial

2000 – 3rd Place at Community Art Center

Vermeer, Chardin, Sargent

oil paintings, contemporary realism, floral paintings, portraits, still life, impressionist paintings